Knife-blade switch.



G. E. LINTON.

KNIFE BLADE SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED.SEPT-30, 19H.-

Patented Apr.20;1915.

@Q Z k UNITE) SATS PATENT @FFIQE GEORGE E. LINTON, 0F WORCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 FRANK C. MONTGOMERY, OF WORCESTER,MASSACHUSETTS.

KNIFE-IBLADE swrrcn.

inserts.

Application filed September 30, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. LINTON, a citizen of the United States,residing in Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in KnifeBlade Switches, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts. I

The present invention relates to a knife blade switch, and is embodiedin a novel construction and arrangement of the switch contact plates andsupporting bases therefor, which constitute the switch terminals,adapted to be connected or disconnected by the hinged knife-blademembers. The switch contact-blades and their supports, together with theknife blade supports, are made entirely of conducting metal, and arearranged to be secured upon a common supporting base of insulatingmaterial; in this respect following the usual construction employed inknife blade switches. V

In accordance with the invention, however, the manufacture of theterminals is greatly facilitated, and the cost thereof reduced, owing tothe means employed for connecting the plates with the metallic baseportions, upon which the plates are immediately supported.

In accordance with the invention, the metallic base portions areprovided with open sockets in which the'contact plates are insertedendwise, the said plates being shown as shouldered so as to bear endwiseon the metallic base portions beyond the walls of the sockets. Theplates thus inserted are held in position by means of a separatingportion which is adapted to be wedged into the socket between theblades. The said separating portion may be made in any suitable way,either as a separate piece, or as integral with the plates themselves.In accordance with this construction, it is practicable to prepare themetallic base portions for the insertion of the plates by a punch ingoperation, it being practicable to punch at the same time an opening fora screw or similar fastening device by which the me tallic base portioncan be secured to the main support of insulating material.

It is to be understood that the term socket is used throughout thedescription and claim as implying an opening Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Apr. 2Q, 1915.

Serial No. 652,098.

which is completely surrounded by lateral walls, as distinguished from aslot of the kind commonly formed by cutting in from the edge.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in sectlon, of a knife bladeswitch embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section takenthrough one of the switch terminals; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on theline 90 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing separately theseveral parts of the terminal; and Fig. 5 is a perspective View, partlyin section, showing a modification.

The complete switch is assembled in the usual way, the switch terminalsbeing mounted on a main support A of insulating ma terial. Each of thesaid switch terminals consists of a metallic base plate a adapted to besecured as by a screw a to the main support A, and the terminal plates2) which are secured in the said metallic base plate.

In describing the construction, one of the opening and closing terminalswill be referred to, the plates Z) in these members differing from theplates Z) in the knife blade supporting members merely by being flaredoutward at the ends, as indicated at 6 to facilitate the entrance of theswitch blades 0, which are shown as hinged between the plates 6 of theknife blade supports. It is obvious, however, that this flaring of theplates 6 is not essential, although the contact plates are usuallyshaped this way, so that they will be close enough together to make afirm contact with the knife blade 0, and at the same time will afford atapering opening or mouth, so that the knife-blade is guided into thespace between the plates.

In accordance with the invention, the metallic base a is provided withan open socket a and usually with an opening a to re ceive the fasteningscrew o The plates or contact springs Z) are of such size as to fit thesocket laterally, but not to fill the socket completely, the two plates,when in position, being separated by a space,in order to receive theblades 0. The plates 6, after the terminal has been assembled, arefirmly held in the sockets by means of separating portions d which areshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and r as metallic keys which are adapted to bewedged firmly into the sockets between the plates 6. The said plates, asbest shown in Figs. 1 and I, are preferably made wider than the socket,and cut away to afford tongues b which fit the socket, and shoulders bwhich lie on the surface of the base a beyond the socket. The separatingkey (Z is adapted to have a tight fit between the blades I), so as tohold the same firmly in place, it being usual, however, to add to thestrength of the construction by applying solder when the parts areassembled.

The specific construction of the separating part is immaterial, so faras relates to the present invention, it being practicable, for

example, as shown in Fig. 5, to substitute for the separate key (Z theupturned portions 6 of the plates Z) themselves.

The construction embodying the invention is not only substantial, butalso inexpensive, for the reason that the sockets a can be rapidly mademy a punching process; and if the opening a is employed for the purposeof fastening the base to the insulating sup port, this opening can bepunched at the same operation, thereby effecting an additional saving oftime.

What I claim is: 7

A switch member comprising a metallic base, provided with a rectangularlaterally inclosed opening extending wholly through said base; flatcontact plates, the main portion of each plate being wider than onedimension of the opening and the lower portion thereof being equal inwidth to the said dimension of the opening, the length of said lowerportion being equal to the depth of said opening so that said lowerportions extend into and through said opening to the bottom of the base,the sides of the lower portion of said contact plates when the switch isassembled lying in contact with opposite vertical walls of the saidopening; and a rectangular metallic block inserted in the openingbetween the contact plates and closely fitting the space inclosed by theexposed sides of said plates and the opposite vertical walls of theopening, the said block constituting the sole means for securing saidplates to said base, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. LINTON.

Witnesses:

A. ELIZABETH CARLSSON, SAMUEL E. NASH.

(Topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

